The central government has officially canceled the auction for the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten mineral block located in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu. This decision was made following extensive discussions that highlighted the area’s significance as a biodiversity heritage site and the government’s dedication to safeguarding traditional rights, as stated in a release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
On November 7, 2024, the Union Ministry of Mines had named Hindustan Zinc as the preferred bidder for the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block, which is classified as a critical and strategic mineral. This block encompasses several villages, including Kavattayampatty, Ettimangalam, A Vallalapatty, Arittapatty, Kidaripatty, and Narasingampatty.
Residents of Madurai have voiced their opposition to the mining project through protests. Recently, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution calling on the central government to revoke the mining rights for tungsten. This stance was supported by all political parties in the state.
During a recent meeting, Ambalakarars, the traditional community leaders from Madurai, conveyed to Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, their concerns regarding the inclusion of the Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site and various cultural heritage locations within the mineral block. The Minister acknowledged the delegation’s concerns and reinforced the Centre’s commitment to protecting biodiversity.
Following the auction, the Ministry of Mines received multiple appeals highlighting the presence of a biodiversity heritage site within the auctioned block, prompting the current decision to annul it.
In response to the cancellation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed satisfaction through a social media post, asserting that as long as he holds the office, the tungsten mining project will not proceed. He praised the Assembly’s unanimous resolution against the project and emphasized that the central government should consult the state before issuing mining auction notifications in the future.
